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Thursday, December 31, 2015

Each year, at the end of the year, I create a Workbook for myself. I use these during the course of the year to write down crafting ideas, make notes about the 613 Challenges, and on occasion, a few personal tasks. Mostly, though, the books are for my crafting goals.

This year, I decided to use a binder to create my Workbook. When I selected the binder, I did not realize that is was 11" x 12" which is big for a desk book, but I liked the idea of seeing how I would cover so much real estate and still keep the front of the workbook interesting!

I chose cut outs from the Graphic 45 Ty-pog-ra-phy Collection to adorn the cover. I love the upbeat quips and quotes. Each time I pick up the workbook, I see little words of encouragement and, as you all know, there are many "crafting" days when we need lots of encouragement.

The school themed paper used for the binder back, spine, and front and interior pockets is from a Page Kit that I bought several years ago at Big Lots for $2.50. I really wish I had purchased about three more of these. I purchased three and this was my last kit.

I used a scrap piece of vinyl wallpaper to make a funky little pen and pencil holder.

The pockets are intentionally uneven

I was so disappointed when I ran out of the reinforcement printed paper, so I took a sheet of brown CS, colored a sheet of reinforcements with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Abandonned Coral Distress Ink™ and then stuck them randomly on to the C/S. I found some neat little stickers in my stash and decided to add them to the page as well.

The paper on the spine also came from the School Days Page Kit. I added a book plate and a couple of fancy paper clips to which i added the caps of gold brads. The binder is covered in clear shelf liner to protect it from stains!

I am trying to figure out if I can now add a leather handle and clasp without destroying my book. Probably not, but I'm still thinking! This book is already getting a workout.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Last week, on Christmas Day, the Shopping Our Stash Blog Challenge Team lost it's Founder and Creative Leader, Leslie Hanna. Today, we have chosen to honor her memory by posting our favorite "Leslie Creation." Many of you probably knew her as The Crooked Stamper, still others of you may have become familiar with her work at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, or A Blog Named Hero, but for me, she was, Leslie, the "Queen of Clean" and voice of SOS! I chose this card because, short of animating the crazy bird so it could do an "eye roll," this card speaks to me of Leslie's creative voice.

Even in death, her light is not extinguished!

Her projects were wonderful and often reflected her sense of "Snark!" She was quite witty, I guess one would have to be if one happily takes on the label "snarky." Leslie was smart, friendly, and uber creative.

Our design aesthetics were very different. Leslie was a Clean And Simple designer while I am all over the place. I was invited to the team in 2013 and I have enjoyed my tenure because everyone on the team is a little "off," (as far as I can tell) because everyone is super talented, and above all, because I loved how Leslie's mind worked. She could come up with some of the strangest challenges...and I used to tell her how weird they were. Sometimes, I would just shake my head, smile, and think, "this child has issues." But those challenges have made me a better and more daring designer. This was her response when I wrote a short story about one of her challenges (create a design based on your shower curtain) that left me less than thrilled.

"BWAHAHAHAHA! I love a good short story! I'm sorry to have caused you "not thrilled" moments, but your final project is amazing. I, too, sometimes let things sit and stew for a few days before the light bulb goes off and I get a clue." Leslie Hanna

And then, as I wrote on my Facebook page the day I learned of her death:
"Leslie, funny, snarky, lovely Leslie is gone...just like that! I still can't take it in. I know I will stop crying...in a minute. I will go back to her blog and look at her work and I will remember and the tears will come again. It will take a long minute."Writing this has started a new stream of tears and I have to stop writing. I didn't know her as well as my other teammates, but Leslie touched me in a mysteriously deep way and it still hurts to remember. Some people leave marks on your soul that are indelible, Leslie has done that to mine!

Monday, December 28, 2015

HI, Crafty Peeps! Today I am presenting a cedar birdhouse that I painted and decorated to resemble a traditional Chinese Tea House - Birdhouse.

Here is a recent design using Earth Safe Finishes®! In case you are not familiar with ESF, it is a WOMAN owned, Made in the USA company that develops, manufactures, and markets high-quality VOC free products. You can read more about the company HERE!

My husband purchased an unfinished cedar birdhouse from the Goodwill Store for $3.49.The windows are caps from empty distress stain bottles.The house had some rough edges, which was great, because I wanted the tea house to show age.

The Oriental Weave panel provides visual relief from the bold designer papers on the back, side and front of the house!

The instructions for creating the faux metal siding are included in the tutorial.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Good Morning, Crafty Peeples,This week, the Design Team at 613 Avenue Create would love to see you create a project that incorporates, Musical Symbols, Sheet Music, Lyrics, etc.

I am late with my post. I wasn't actually scheduled to post a project this week, but,yesterday, I learned that Leslie Hanna, the owner of the Shopping Our Stash Challenge Blog, died Christmas afternoon. Her death was sudden and unexpected and has left us all in a state of shock. My teammates and I are still trying to imagine SOS without her.

Goodbye, my dear friend. Rest in the arms of G-d!

I am not sure what influenced the creative side of my brain while working on this tag.

I started with a piece of sheet music torn from one of my clarinet study books.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Use something you have hoarded that you never, ever, planned to actually use. Piece of pretty paper? Special embellishment? Tell us what your is your Precious element.

**TWO WEEK CHALLENGE! (ENDS ON 01/04/16)

When it comes to hoarding, in my world, it is anything from Graphic 45.
I have tons and tons of G45 Collections. I am a member of a buying club and we get G45 at a group discounted rate, so I can get the stamps, papers, embellishments, etc., at a deeply discounted price. Great, right? Wrong, because I never want to use the stuff. In 2016, I plan to start using my papers. bs'd

HARMONY CANVAS PANEL

I had to find a way to incorporate those stunning birds! The micro beads and glitter don't photograph as well as I would like, but IRL, they jus sparkle.

Creating this project put me in an oriental state of mind and I completed two more designs using the Graphic 45 Birdsong papers. I also fell in love all over again with the faux metal embossing.

My teammates at Shopping Our Stash have creates some pretty awesome projects for your inspiration. Stop by and leave your "Precious" and a little love!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

December is usually a lost crafting month for me because most of the challenges are centered around Christmas. This year I decided to create Winter themed projects that would not look Christmasy. Also, since my birthday is in November and all of my gifts are craft supplies or money to be used to buy craft supplies, I usually have a lot of new toys with which to play!

New Toys:

Big Shot Plus, Minc Foil Machine, Silhouette Mint, and the E Brush

(Using an air brush system is not as easy as it looks!)

So here are two tags that are going on gifts to a couple of special friends.

This is more fall than winter, but I just love this blend of Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

I think the brown tones warm up the chill of the cool blues in this creation.

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DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Effective December 1, 2009, ftc guidelines require bloggers to disclose any time they are compensated for endorsing or reviewing products or services.

I have posted projects containing components i have received for free or received perks in return for posts on my blog. I would never make or endorse misleading statements regarding any product or service used in the operation of this blog.

if you have questions regarding any product or service used on my blog, please contact me at cmalkah@yahoo.com